Stormwater Committee

Stormwater Committee Meeting October 24, 2022 Human Resources Training Room 1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 6:01 PM. 2. Roll Call: Roll was called by Barbara Brumbaugh, there was not a quorum at the beginning of the meeting. Committee Members in Attendance: Todd Reigle Markiella Moore Michael Poyner Vic Nicholls – arrived 6:33PM Michael Battle Crystal Bloom (PW Asst City Engineer) Ross Brockwell (PW Operations Administrator) Cory Wolfe (Assistance City Attorney) Barbara Brumbaugh (PW Environmental Program Manager) Absent Committee Members Roger Baxter (Committee Chair) Traycie West-Pinkoski Mario Aponte Kevin Walker Laura Mae (Alternate) Citizens in Attendance: None 3. Meeting Minutes Minutes approval was deferred to the next meeting. 4. Citizen Comments None -1- 5. PW Operations Report, Ross Brockwell o Ross said that the remote mowers have been retrofitted and are working well. o Markiella asked about vegetation control as it seems to cross categories (Right-of-way and stormwater) o Ross noted that the crew leader who runs vegetation control has been out. o Ross reviewed the numbers in the Operations Report and also stated that crews have been busy with Ballahack and Glencoe work. o The first photo shown was Angus Drive, an example of a clear concrete channel. o Work is ongoing at Glencoe, there is a future project to upsize the pipe. Markiella asked which watershed this is, it’s Southern Chesapeake, Herring Ditch. She asked if it is private property. Ross said it is, but the City has an easement. Markiella asked what prompted the work. Ross said it was probably a CSR or a standing water complaint. He will find out and report back. o Mike P. asked if they do a survey (when they do ditch work). Ross said they shoot a grade. o Mike B. asked about crews encountering wildlife during work. Ross said they encounter snakes a lot. o There was a follow up question asking if Ross handles all areas. A discussion of public vs. private ditches followed. 6. Engineering Update, Crystal Bloom o Crystal reported that the CFPF Round 3 grants were announced. The City received a grant to complete a watershed study. DCR requested more information about the Greenbrier Outfall Resiliency Improvements project, but this project is still under consideration for grant funding. o The Oakdale area drainage improvements project was not selected for grant funding. PW is working with DCR to determine why. Markiella asked if that was the project that had the highest number of points. o CFPF Round 4 will be announced in early 2023, loans will be added as well. o The response to comments on the Resiliency Plan was provided to the Committee, but there are still comments to add. The City may need to wait to update the Resiliency Plan since there is a new grant manual coming out. o Mike B. asked about Markiella’s comments, they are addressed in the response memo. o The CIP budget needs to go through review by the Budget Review Committee. The City stuck to similar funding as last year. Inflation has had a big impact and few new projects were included. o Markiella noted that the City has an opening for an Engineer IV in Stormwater and she asked about it. This is Crystal’s previous position. -2- 7. Bylaws Discussion, Cory Wolfe o Corey asked if the Committee wants the public comments to be limited to three or five minutes. o In response to the option of “hybrid” meetings (i.e. a virtual option for citizens), the Clerk’s Office told Barbara that this is not currently allowed. o Mike B. asked if we now have a quorum. He asked if a member arrives late is that still a quorum. o The annual meeting with Council was brought up. Cory said that any meetings with Council will be at the discretion of Council. Markiella requested that the current bylaw language regarding annual meetings with City Council remain in place. o Cory will distribute the updated bylaws. 8. Field Trip Discussion, Barbara Brumbaugh o Barbara noted that potential field trip sites include: Chesapeake Avenue (still at 90% design); demo of remote mowers; Royce Drive drainage improvements (removing trees, opening up drainage) although the concrete pipe order is delayed. o Mike P. asked about a video for pipe lining or remote mowing. Todd feels the Committee can find videos on their own. o Markiella suggested that we table going on a field trip since it is almost winter. The Committee agreed and the field trip discussion will be re-visited in February 2023 for a potential field trip in the spring. o The Committee wants to keep the elections in February so that will remain unchanged in the by-laws. 9. Old Business/New Business o Markiella asked about the Chesapeake Avenue storm drain replacement and what the storm design is. Crystal said the project design will bring the system to a 10 year storm. The system varies currently. o Crystal was asked about the street replacement. Generally streets are replaced “in kind”, either asphalt or concrete depending on current conditions. Some of the residents noted that the streets used to be concrete until the City began paving with asphalt. They requested that it be put back in concrete. Basically the project budget will not change, so if the residents want concrete the project scope will be cut in half as most of the cost will be put toward concrete roads. The Civic League wants the full scope with in- kind replacement. Markiella believes the City should submit this for [grant] funding. o Markiella noted that everyone can vote. Crystal said that resident comments are weighted more. They are categorized by zip code. o Mike P. asked if “in-kind” means the City must replace with concrete AND asphalt. o Markiella asked if this project had been reviewed by the South Norfolk Historical and Architectural Review Board. Vic explained what this Review -3-  Board does. Markiella believes the project should be done right, even if not all at the same time. o Markiella asked about the Stormwater Fee rate increase. Is the new rate being billed? The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 pm. Minutes approved by the Committee _____________________________ Date _____________________________ -4-